Hermantown Planning and Zoning Commission to review data center permits Tuesday night
Hermantown's Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled to review a special-use permit and other agreements related to Google's proposed data center. The City Council has unanimously approved a Minnesota Power transmission line intended to serve the project, while opponents continue raising concerns about shorelands, water, and compliance with state environmental rules.
Hermantown's Planning and Zoning Commission is set to hold a public hearing on Google's proposed data center and consider a special-use permit and related agreements. If the commission recommends approval, the permits will move to the Hermantown City Council, which is expected to vote the following Monday. The decision could allow the project to proceed.
The City Council unanimously approved Minnesota Power's transmission line, which is intended to supply electricity to the data center. Minnesota Power changed the route to avoid shorelands, while Google said it is developing a 50-year decommissioning guarantee and working with Hermantown School District leaders on local contributions after abandoning a proposed property-tax abatement. Opponents protested and spoke at the council meeting, citing concerns about the transmission line's proximity to a body of water and alleged shortcomings in the city's shoreland ordinance. The city's community development director apologized for mistakes in the ordinance, while some residents said Google had been more responsive to their concerns than city representatives.